Step-ladder



' (No Model.)

J. W. HUNTER 8v 0. F. BASSE TT.

STEP LADDER. V,

No. 336,008. Patented Feb. 9, 1886.

UNITED STATES LATENT Fries.

JAMES W. HUNTER AND CHARLES F. BASSETT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 336,008, dated February 9, 1886.

Application filed July 6, 1885.

To all whom it may cancer/1,.-

Be it known that we, JAMES W. HUNTER and CHARLES F. Blissn'r'r, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step-Ladders; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in two-part extension-ladders; and it consists in the mattershereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention embraces improvements in the devices for adjustably connecting the parts of the ladder, whereby its length may be conveniently changed, and it also embraces improved devices for connecting the parts of the ladder in such manner that said parts may be conveniently attached and held in position for mutual support, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The invention may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective viewof a twopart ladder embodying our invention, the lower part of said ladder being shown as made in the form of an ordinary step-ladder, with flat side pieces and steps, and the upper part as constructed with narrow side pieces and rungs. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the lower or step part. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the upper portion of the upper or rung part. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the step part. Fig. 5 is a perspective view detached of a hook for sustaining the upper part of the ladder. Fig. 6 is a similarview of another form of the hook. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of the step part of the ladder, taken upon line .90 a: of Fig. 2, illustrating the hook for sustaining the rung part.

In the said drawings, A is the lower or step part, comprising side pieces or stiles a, a top step, E, and steps F F, and B is the upper or rung part, consisting of side pieces b b and rungs g. The said part B is constructed to rest in contact with and slide upon the part Serial No. 170,869.

(No model.)

-A when the parts are used as an extensionladder, and is adapted to be attached at its upper end to the part A, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the parts may mutually support each other when they are used as an ordinary stepladder.

. C is an iron band or strap attached at each end to the outside of the stiles or side pieces a of the part A, and extending around the part B, said band serving as a guide for the said part B and to hold the parts together when they are used as an extension-ladder, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, and also to connect the upper parts of the said parts when they are attached for mutual support, as will hereinafter appear.

D is a hook, herein'shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5 as made double and formed from a single rod or bar bent to form two hooks, 0 0, united by a cross bar, 0, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The said hook is pivotally supported upon the side pieces or stiles a of the step part of the ladder, above one of the steps F, by

means of aperturesp, forming bearings for the v end portions of the rod forming the hook, whereby the hook can be partially rotated, and will when thrown with its free end rearwardly be supported by the step, with its hooked portion extending beyond the rear edges of the side pieces in position to engage either of the rounds of the part B of the ladder, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and in dotted lines at D, Fig. 2. The said hook, being pivoted loosely, is free to fall by its own weight into position for engagement with the rungs, and is at the same time free to rise when encountered by the rungs, so as to allow the latter to pass above it in thrusting the part B of the ladder upwardly. The hook also may be thrown into position and allowed to rest with its free end forward and in contact with the front edge of the step, so as to permit the free passage of the rungs in moving the part B downward, this position of the hook being indicated by the dotted lines D Figs. 2- and -:l.

To prevent the book from being thrown forward and entirely out ofengagement with the rungs in lifting the part B, a stop, 8, is preferably located upon one of the side bars a, in position to engage and. arrest the said hook when the latter has reached a point at which the rungs may freely pass it, but before the said hook has been thrown sufficiently far to fall forward upon the step, and as indicated by the dotted lines D, Figs. 2 and 4..- To provide a means for allowing the entire disengagement of the hook in lowering the said part B, when desired, the said hook is adapted to shift endwise or laterally in the stiles, so that it may be moved into position to clear the stop. For this purpose the end portions of the hook, which are parallel with the stiles, are desirably placed at a less distance apart than the space between the stiles, as clearly shown in the sectional view, Fig. 7, and the rod composing the hook is extended outwardly at one side ofthe ladder, and provided with a handle or ring, d, whereby the hook may be conveniently shifted endwise and rotated in adjusting the parts of the ladder.

The hook D, instead of being made of a.

single rod bent to form a double hook, may consist of two separate pieces, D D, connected by a rod, d", as shown in Fig. 6.

As preferably constructed, the steps E F F are arranged to project rearwardly from the side pieces a of the part A, and are notched, as indicated at c c, to engage the side pieces I) b of the part B, and thereby form guides to hold the said part B from lateral movement upon the part A when the parts are placed together.

Thehooked portions 0 0 of the hook D are desirably made to incline inwardly in their outer upturned portions, as shown in Figs. 2,

5, and 6, whereby the downward pressure of the rung engaged with the hook upon the said upturned portions will tend to force the parts A and B of the ladder together.

As an improved means for connecting the parts A and B, with their lower ends spread apart to mutually support each other, devices are herein shown, as follows: The upper rear ends of the stiles a of the part A, at points above the strap 0, are provided with notches H, adapted for engagement with the upper ends of the side pieces I) b of the part B when the parts A and B are placed at an angle with each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. In connection with the notches H H, the upper ends of the side pieces b of the part B are desirably beveled, as indicated at K,Figs.1 and 3, to allow a desired separation of the lower ends of the ladder without requiring that for this purpose the notches H should be made undesirably deep. In connection with the strap 0 and the notches H H, the part B of the ladder is desirably provided with stops Z Z, formed,as herein shown, by the projecting ends of the upper rung, said stops being located above and constructed to engage the end portions of said strap,vso as'to positively lock the upper ends of the parts together when the latter are placed at an angle with each other.

As an additional means of holding the parts of the ladder in position for mutual support, the side pieces I) b are preferably provided with notches I 1 upon their outer or rear, faces,adapted to receive the strap 0 when the lower ends of the parts A and B are spread apart. It is entirely obvious, however, that a device capable of successful operation may be made without the use of the saidnotches I I. The band or strip 0 is preferably arranged with its end portions, which are attached to the stiles, at an upward and backward inclination with reference to the latter, as indicated in Fig. 2, whereby the strain upon the parts of the ladder tending to separate the lower ends of said parts will give a direct tension upon the said strap.

It is to be understood that the appended claims cover the devices, parts, or elements,

therein set forth, when said devices, parts, or elements are in form to obtain either, any, or all of the purposes, functions, or advantages obtained or performed by or existing in them in the particular form thereof illustrated.

We claim as our invention-- l. The combination, with the part A, provided with a strap, 0, and a part, B, provided with rungs g, of a hook, D, comprising two connected parts, 0, having bearings in the side pieces of the part A, and a step, E, or equivalent stationary part or surface upon the part A, sustaining said hook in position to engage the rungs of the part B, substantially as described.

2. The combination,with thepart-A, having steps F, and a strap, 0, and the part B, provided with rungs g, of a hook, D, comprising two connected parts, 0, having hearings in the side pieces of the part A, and provided with a handle, d,whereby said hook may be rotated, and a step, E, or an equivalent stationary part or surface upon the part A, sustaining said hook in position to engage the rungs of the part B, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the parts A and B, of a hook, D, pivoted upon the part A, and a stop, 8, adapted to engage the said hook, said hook being laterally movable upon the part A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4.. The combination,with the part A,having side pieces 0!, provided with a stop, 8, and with apertures 19, and the part B, provided with rungs g, of a laterally-movable pivoted hook, D, having bearings in the apertures 19, and provided with a handle, d,whereby it may be shifted laterally and rotated, substantially as described.

5. A ladder comprising two parts, A and B, adapted for mutual support and having their side pieces arranged edge to edge, and a strap, .0, rigidly secured thereto and engaging the upper end of the part B, to hold the upper ends of said parts together, said part A being provided with notches H H, formed in its side pieces adjacent to and above the said strap, and constructed to receive the upper ends of the part B when the parts are placed at an angle with each other, and the other of said parts B being provided with stops Z 1, adapted for engagement with said strap, sub stantially as described.

6. The combination,with the part A,provided with a strap, 0, and notches H H, formed in its side pieces above the strap,of a part. B, having its side pieces arranged edge to edge with the side pieces of the part A, and constructed to engage said notches at its upper end, said part B being provided with stops Z Z, engaging the strap, and with notches I 1, to receive the strap when the parts A and B are spread apart at theirlower ends, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the part A, comprising side pieces a, and steps E F E, of the JAMES WV. HUNTER. CHAS. F. BASSETT.

Vitnesses:

\VILLIAM WV. HUNTER, WM. WIsWELL. 

